Faster GBP Verification: Get Text Instead of Video

Here's how I did it...

July 07, 2025

Hello!

Local search things and a super exciting Whitespark announcement below 👇️

1. Google loves adding wrong stuff to your Profile

Google is adding services to GBPs all the time, and sometimes they can be so ridiculous. Where do they get these from?! Are they AI hallucinations?

In 2023, Joy Hawkins confirmed that these predefined services can affect rankings.

So, here’s how to make the most of predefined services 👇

  • Add as many relevant categories as you can. You can add 1 primary and up to 9 additional categories, so choose carefully.

  • Google introduces new categories often, so check Pleper monthly for any new categories you might add to your Profile. If you add a relevant category before your competitors even know it exists, you can outrank them for that search term.

  • Keep an eye on the services Google suggests based on your categories — some are surprisingly spot-on, others, not so much.

    • Whitespark’s Local Platform will alert you whenever Google adds new services to your GBP, giving you the option to reject them if they’re not a good fit, like “Weddings Beautiful” in the screenshot above. Huh

  • For each of the services you don’t reject, create a matching service page on your website. A detailed page about the specific service can improve your rankings.

  • Always add descriptions to your services - they help you stand out in mobile searches and give you a chance to tell potential customers why you're great at what you do.

2. Moving locations?

Steal my step-by-step guide for updating your Google Business Profile address.

Most businesses do this wrong by changing the address on their GBP first.

You should get everything else in order before updating your GBP. Google will check different online sources to verify the new address, and if they don’t match, your Profile could get unverified or suspended.

Here's the right order for updating your GBP address 👇

Save this checklist here.

3. How to get text verification instead of video verification

Here's how we sidestepped video verification and got text verification for this client 👇️

What most new businesses do is go straight to Google, add a business, and then have to deal with the most annoying process on earth: video verification.

But here's the process we followed to get text verification:

  1. We created a Facebook business page with the name, address, phone, and website URL and connected it to her existing IG account.

  2. We created a BBB listing.

  3. We updated the listings she already had online with the address and other info (a handful of industry-specific directories).

  4. We updated the website to include the NAP information in the footer of every page on her 11-page site.

  5. We connected her website to Google Search Console and Analytics using her company domain email that is on Google Workspace.

  6. We had someone she knows, who is a level 4 local guide, go to Google Maps and add the business. (This unclaimed listing started ranking for a few long-tail terms within a couple of days.)

  7. She got a few reviews from clients on the new listing her friend created.

  8. Finally, we claimed the existing listing using her Google Workspace domain-based Google account, and her verification options were phone/text or video. Obviously, we chose text. 1 minute later, the GBP was claimed and verified within her account.

Basically, if Google has evidence that this is a real business and that your account is clearly connected to it, then you'll likely get better verification options.

If not, you can expect Google to ask you to prove the business's existence and your connection to it via video verification (gross).

Many local SEOs shared their experiences with verification on LinkedIn — check out their comments for other helpful tips!

4. Finally, an exciting announcement

I am thrilled to announce that the incredible Claire Carlile will be joining the Whitespark team as our Local Visibility Expert!

Claire is one of the most brilliant, kind, and delightful people in local search community, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team. With over 20 years of local search experience and expertise, she’ll be working with us to produce all kinds of educational content, as well as improve our products and services.

Stay tuned for big things from Whitespark coming soon!

And, as always, follow me on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and/or Threads, so you don’t miss anything!

Darren